SportsPulse: We've all seen the iconic image of Brandi Chastain winning the 1999 Women's World Cup. But as teammate and legendary goalkeeper Briana Scurry explains, that moment almost didn't happen.
USA TODAY

Ever since she stepped into the spotlight as a goalkeeper for the U.S. Women's National Team in 2000, Hope Solo's life has seemingly been an endless series of high-profile peaks and valleys.

She won Olympic gold medals in 2008 and 2012 but was benched in the 2007 Women's World Cup semifinals as the U.S. lost. After falling short again in 2011, she helped lead Team USA to the World Cup title in 2015. Her final international appearance ended with a penalty-kick loss to Sweden in the 2016 Olympics.

Solo told the magazine that she and her husband, former NFL player Jerramy Stevens, had been trying for a while to have a baby. Then about a month after the miscarriage, while still experiencing both physical and emotional pain, she learned from a doctor she had been pregnant with twins -- one of them ectopic.

“The doctor said I was hours from dying. They ended up having to remove my fallopian tube,” she told Elle.

At that same time, she was also running for president of the U.S. Soccer Federation. Although she didn't win the election -- finishing last -- she made equal pay and working conditions for male and female players one of her primary themes at the USSF convention.

"I knew my voice was important,” Solo said. “That speech took a lot. Even before all that, it would have taken courage.”

Since those losses, Solo has continued her fight for women's rights in soccer. With an existing gender discrimination complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission at a standstill, she filed a federal lawsuit against the USSF last August. In March, all 28 members of the current U.S. Women's National Team joined her.

July 21, 1996: Mia Hamm celebrates after scoring a goal against Denmark at the Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Fla. during the 1996 Olympics. The U.S. beat Denmark, 3-0, in the first game of the women's soccer tournament and would go on to win the gold medal. CHRIS O'MEARA, Associated Press

June 19, 1999: A crowd of more than 78,000 watch the opening ceremonies at the opening game of the Women's World Cup Soccer at the Medowlands in New Jersey. The U.S. beat Denmark, 3-0, in the opening game of the 1999 Women's World Cup. DIANE WEISS, USA TODAY

July 4, 1999: Michelle Akers (10) is congratulated by teammates Shannon MacMillan (8) and Tiffeny Milbrett after scoring the team's second goal in a 2-0 win over Brazil in the Women's World Cup semifinal in Stanford, California. ERIC RISBERG, Associated Press

July 10, 1999: The pregame show before the Women's World Cup final between the U.S. and China at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Califirnia. The U.S. won the game on penalty kicks. Vincent Laforet, Getty Images

July 19, 1999: President Bill Clinton holds up a women's U.S. World Cup jersey that was given to him by co-captain Julie Foudy (center) and Carla Overbeck (right) during a cermony on the South Lawn of the White House. DENNIS COOK, Associated Press

Aug. 26, 2004: Abby Wambach and Mia Hamm celebrate the Olympic gold medal win over Brazil in Karaiskaki Stadium in Piraeus, Greece. Wambach scored the game winning goal in overtime play to defeat Brazil, 2-1. It marked the second time that the USWNT won gold in the Olympics. Jack Gruber, USA TODAY

Aug. 29, 2004: At the Closing Ceremony for the 2004 Summer Olympics, Julie Foudy, Joy Fawcett, Mia Hamm, Kristine Lilly and Brandi Chastain -- also known as the "fab five" of the U.S. women's soccer team -- have their photo taken. Jack Gruber, USAT

Jul 15, 2015: Members of the U.S. women's soccer team, winner of the 2015 World Cup, pose on the red carpet during the 2015 ESPY's award show at the Nokia Theater. The USWNT won the ESPY for outstanding team. Jayne Kamin-Oncea, USA TODAY Sports

Oct. 27, 2015: President Barack Obama poses for photos with a jersey he received from head coach Jill Ellis as he welcomed the U.S. women's World Cup championship team in the East Room of the White House. Carolyn Kaster, AP

July 7, 2019: Megan Rapinoe celebrates after scoring on a penality kick in the Women's World Cup final against the Netherlands in Lyon, France. The U.S. won the game, 2-0, to win a second consecutive World Cup and fourth World Cup overall. IAN LANGSDON, EPA-EFE

July 7, 2019: Megan Rapinoe hoists the World Cup trophy and celebrates with teammates after defeating the Netherlands in the championship match of the Women's World Cup at Stade de Lyon. Michael Chow, USA TODAY Sports

July 10, 2019: USWNT forward Megan Rapinoe celebrates with teammates at City Hall after the ticker-tape parade for the World Cup champions down the canyon of heroes in New York City. Brad Penner, USA TODAY Sports